Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentSurgeryRecovery After SurgeryRisksWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Surgery
Recovery After Surgery
Risks
When to See a Healthcare Provider
A deviated septum is when the cartilaginous or bony structure that divides thenosein half (the septum) is off-center (deviated).Research supports that for most people, the nasal septum is off-center to some extent and doesn’t divide the nose equally.This can affect breathing through one or both nostrils or cause sinus infections.
This article describes what a deviated septum feels like, the symptoms it causes, and how healthcare providers diagnose and treat it.
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What Causes a Deviated Septum?
Sometimes, a deviated septum occurs naturally throughout the growth and development process. However, the nasal septum is made of bone and cartilage, making it susceptible to damage. So, injury or trauma to the nose, such as a punch or fall, can break the nasal septum and cause it to heal crookedly, resulting in a deviated septum.
Deviated Septum Symptoms
Many of those who have a deviated septum are unaware of the condition because they do not experience any signs or symptoms, such as difficulty breathing through the nose. If you suspect that you may have a deviated symptom, here are some of the common signs and symptoms associated with the condition that you may experience:
Deviated Septum
How Is a Deviated Septum Diagnosed?
How to Perform a Deviated Septum Self-Test (And What to Do Next)
Deviated Septum Treatment
Because many people with a deviated septum have no symptoms (or minimal symptoms), no treatment is required. If symptoms worsen or new ones appear, it is essential to see a qualified healthcare provider, such as a primary care physician or an otolaryngologist. They may recommend surgery to repair a deviated septum.
Surgery for a Deviated Septum
Surgery is the only treatment that corrects the structural deviation of the septum. If non-surgical treatment options don’t provide symptom relief, a healthcare provider might recommend surgery. There are two different types of surgeries for deviated septa:
What’s Recovery Like After a Septoplasty?
Septoplasty might resolve your deviated septum symptoms, but as with any surgery, there may be potential complications during recovery, including:
Sinus Surgery: Everything You Need to Know
What Happens if a Deviated Septum Goes Untreated?
Though up to 80% of people have a deviated septum, few experience symptoms or total nasal obstruction.The AAO-HNS does not recommend any treatment for people with a deviated septum who are not experiencing any symptoms.
If you have a deviated septum and start to experience frequent nosebleeds, recurring sinus infections, or trouble breathing, seeing a healthcare provider for an examination and to determine appropriate treatment is essential.
Deviated septum treatment typically includes non-surgical and surgical options, as described above. Nasal septal surgery is not always effective in alleviating all symptoms, so working with a healthcare provider to manage the condition is crucial.
A deviated septum doesn’t always produce symptoms. However, you should see a healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms or if they worsen:
Summary
Many are often unaware they have a deviated nasal septum because they are asymptomatic, which is OK. After all, treatment is unnecessary, in this case. However, if you develop new or worsening symptoms, follow up with a healthcare provider for treatment. Untreated deviated septum symptoms can impact breathing and lead to infection. A healthcare provider will recommend non-surgical or surgical treatment options, depending on the severity of the symptoms. All interventions aim to alleviate symptoms to prevent breathing problems or repeated infections.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kim TK, Jeong JY.Deviated nose: physiological and pathological changes of the nasal cavity.Arch Plast Surg. 2020;47(6):505-515. doi:10.5999/aps.2020.01781American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Deviated septum.Wang Y, Bonaparte JP.Diagnosis and management of septal deviation and nasal valve collapse—a survey of Canadian otolaryngologists.J of Otolaryngol - Head & Neck Surg48, 71 (2019). doi:10.1186/s40463-019-0394-zAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Nasal surgery: fixing form and function.American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Clinical indicators—septoplasty.van Egmond MMHT, Rovers MM, van Heerbeek N, et al.Effectiveness of septoplasty versus non-surgical management for nasal obstruction due to a deviated nasal septum in adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2015;16:500. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-1031-4
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kim TK, Jeong JY.Deviated nose: physiological and pathological changes of the nasal cavity.Arch Plast Surg. 2020;47(6):505-515. doi:10.5999/aps.2020.01781American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Deviated septum.Wang Y, Bonaparte JP.Diagnosis and management of septal deviation and nasal valve collapse—a survey of Canadian otolaryngologists.J of Otolaryngol - Head & Neck Surg48, 71 (2019). doi:10.1186/s40463-019-0394-zAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Nasal surgery: fixing form and function.American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Clinical indicators—septoplasty.van Egmond MMHT, Rovers MM, van Heerbeek N, et al.Effectiveness of septoplasty versus non-surgical management for nasal obstruction due to a deviated nasal septum in adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2015;16:500. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-1031-4
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kim TK, Jeong JY.Deviated nose: physiological and pathological changes of the nasal cavity.Arch Plast Surg. 2020;47(6):505-515. doi:10.5999/aps.2020.01781American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Deviated septum.Wang Y, Bonaparte JP.Diagnosis and management of septal deviation and nasal valve collapse—a survey of Canadian otolaryngologists.J of Otolaryngol - Head & Neck Surg48, 71 (2019). doi:10.1186/s40463-019-0394-zAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Nasal surgery: fixing form and function.American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Clinical indicators—septoplasty.van Egmond MMHT, Rovers MM, van Heerbeek N, et al.Effectiveness of septoplasty versus non-surgical management for nasal obstruction due to a deviated nasal septum in adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2015;16:500. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-1031-4
Kim TK, Jeong JY.Deviated nose: physiological and pathological changes of the nasal cavity.Arch Plast Surg. 2020;47(6):505-515. doi:10.5999/aps.2020.01781
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Deviated septum.
Wang Y, Bonaparte JP.Diagnosis and management of septal deviation and nasal valve collapse—a survey of Canadian otolaryngologists.J of Otolaryngol - Head & Neck Surg48, 71 (2019). doi:10.1186/s40463-019-0394-z
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Nasal surgery: fixing form and function.
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Clinical indicators—septoplasty.
van Egmond MMHT, Rovers MM, van Heerbeek N, et al.Effectiveness of septoplasty versus non-surgical management for nasal obstruction due to a deviated nasal septum in adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2015;16:500. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-1031-4
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